A sheepish sheriff’s deputy stepped into the chin-to-chin fracas and aides scrambled to put some daylight between Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman during a debate Thursday night at Pierce College in the San Fernando Valley. The two are vying for a seat in the newly redistricted 30th, in the Los-Angeles area, and are locked in a heated and costly race after California’s unusual primary system, which pits the two top vote-getters against one another, regardless of party.

The two were seated together on the same side of a table when Rep. Berman, 71 years old, said Rep. Sherman’s attacks on his record show he’s “either delusional or a liar,” rising from his chair and moving closer to Mr. Sherman, 57… Read More »

Rep. Brad Sherman topped fellow Los Angeles Democrat Rep. Howard Berman in Tuesday’s primary election 42% to 32%. Under California’s new open primary system, the two lawmakers will face off again in the general election, since they were the top two vote getters in the primary.

The two incumbent lawmakers were forced into the same district by the once-a-decade process known as redistricting. Read More »

Californians go to the polls Tuesday to vote on a cigarette tax increase, and will also decide a number of other closely watched races. Polls close at 8 p.m. Pacific/11 p.m. Eastern.

Here’s a rundown of key contests:

CIGARETTE TAX: The highest-profile ballot item in California is a proposal to raise the state cigarette tax by $1 a pack. Known as Proposition 29, the measure would boost California’s cigarette tax to $1.87 a pack from 87 cents. The added revenue would fund research into cancer and other tobacco-related diseases, along with prevention and education programs. While a cigarette tax to fund health research isn’t uncommon nationwide, California’s is unusual in that it will be on the ballot. Most such cigarette taxes are passed by a state legislature and signed by a governor, with lobbying taking place largely behind closed doors. Read the Journal’s recent analysis.Read More »

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